Clay County, MO Septic Rating
Clay County, MO: the USDA septic-suitability picture
Very limited
Clay County, MO: USDA's soil survey calls 87.4% of the county "Very limited" for a septic leach field. That reading means a conventional system is a poor bet here - it's already USDA's strictest "very limited" bucket, not a partial constraint. The county spans 398 square miles, home to 263,370 people.
What this number does and doesn't tell you
Nothing about Clay County, MO's SSURGO figure applies to a specific address - it's a county-wide average. Budget $750-$1,850 for a real perc test on any specific parcel - that's the only figure a permit application accepts.
Clay County: conventional vs. engineered cost
87.4% of Clay County carrying a "Very limited" reading changes the realistic budget here. Conventional systems run $3,000-$8,000 where they pass; where they don't, engineered alternatives (mound or aerobic treatment, whichever the health department requires) run $10,000-$40,000 - budget toward the higher figure until a perc test says otherwise.
How Clay County, MO compares
Among the 3,058 rated counties on this site, Clay County, MO ranks 1,513 most-constrained nationally, and 85 of 114 within Missouri.
Related guides
How this rating is built, and its real limits · Conventional vs. engineered septic systems